‘Arrow’ Casts ‘Spartacus’ Star Manu Bennett as Major DC Villain

'Spartacus' star Manu Bennett has had to fend off plenty of arrows in his time playing the honorable gladiator/warrior Crixus, but his latest role may well double that. While 'Spartacus: War of the Damned' will premiere its final season on January 25, the buff New Zealander will next make his way to The CW's 'Arrow,' guesting as a character we've surprisingly already seen! What secret lies behind Manu Bennett's Slade Wilson, and will he prove friend, foe or brother to Oliver Queen?

Exciting news for fans of both 'Spartacus' and The CW's 'Arrow,' as Entertainment Weekly reports that Crixus himself, Manu Bennett will take a major role in The CW's freshman superhero drama. Appearing in multiple episodes, Bennett will take the role of Slade WIlson, which DC fans know to be the alter-ego of DC comic villain Deathstroke!

Of course, Deathstroke himself already appeared in 'Arrow's' fifth episode "Damaged," though without any lines, and portrayed by a different actor under the character's iconic orange and black mask. EW reports that Wilson and Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) will form an uneasy alliance during their time (in flashback) on the island of Lian Yu, but judging by the mask's arrowed image in the pilot episode, the relationship likely won't end well.